Meaningful Use, Certification Criteria and Standards, and HHS Certification Process
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), includes billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments to providers and hospitals for the "Meaningful Use" of certified health IT products. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to take regulatory action in several areas, including electronic health record (EHR) incentives for eligible professionals and hospitals (Meaningful Use), standards and certification criteria, an HHS Certification Program, and privacy and security.
Meaningful Use
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have released a Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Programs Final Rule on Meaningful Use that identifies the criteria for becoming a meaningful user of health IT. Both programs have start dates of fiscal year 2010 (as early as October 1, 2010) for hospitals and calendar year 2011 (as early as January 1, 2011) for eligible professional (EP) categories.
Standards and Certification Criteria
ARRA also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish certification criteria and standards for achieving meaningful use. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the National Coordinator established a Final Rule on the Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria, which are being used to support Meaningful Use for the start of the Incentive payment programs in 2011.
HHS Certification Program
ARRA amended Section 3001(c)(5) of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to authorize the
Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology to establish a Certification Process to accompany the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The National Coordinator has decided on a two-pronged approach for the Certification program – a Temporary Certification Program and a Permanent Program. ONC has released the Final Rule for the Temporary Certification Program, which will allow Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ATCBs) to test and certify Complete EHRs and/or EHR Modules. The Temporary Program will end when the Permanent Certification Program final rule is released in the future
In its role as the leading authority on the appropriate implementation and use of health IT, HIMSS is developing multiple resources to equip our members to prepare for the Meaningful Use and Certification Criteria and Standards regulations. Utilize these tools to ensure you are prepared to become Meaningful Users.
NEW Highlights of the HHS Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology Final Rule Updated 7/28/2010 
NEW Brief Facts for Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria Final Rule Updated 7/14/2010
Briefs for members' use on the path towards meaningful use.
NEW Ambulatory Eligible Providers – Medicaid Updated 8/26/2010
NEW HIE and Meaningful Use Matrix Updated 8/13/2010
NEW Meaningful Use Objectives and Associated Measures for Pediatricians - Medicaid Program Updated 8/5/2010
NEW Meaningful Use Hospital Requirements Updated 8/13/2010
NEW Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) Updated 8/9/2010
NEW Final ARRA-related Regulations Pertaining to Meaningful Use Objectives and Associated Measures for Eligible Providers – Medicare Program Updated 8/9/2010
NEW Hospital Medicare Registration Updated 8/3/2010
NEW Critical Access Hospitals Updated 8/13/2010
NEW Hospital-Based Professional Determination Updated 8/17/2010
NEW Hospital Payments Updated 8/17/2010
NEW Clinical Decision Support
Updated 8/13/2010
NEW Medicare Advantage Program
Updated 8/9/2010
NEW Quality Metrics Updated 8/13/2010
NEW Emergency Departments
Updated 8/13/2010
ARRA Clinical Decision Support FAQs
Updated 4/1/2010
Davies Award - EHR Best Practices
Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes
E-Prescribing Federal Incentive Programs
E-Prescribing Tips for Rural and Independant
How to Maximize Patient Safety When
Handling
E-Prescriptions in the Pharmacy
How to Educate Consumers on the value of
E-Prescribing
Electronic Prescribing Federal Incentive
Programs - Ambulatory Practice Tip Sheet
NEW Meaningful Use Stage 1 Hospital and Eligible Provider Self Assessment Tool 
Selecting an EMR for Your Practice: Evaluating Usability
Accountable Care Organizations FAQ
ARRA HITECH Medicare Incentive Provider Calculator, with permission of HIMformatics
Top 10 Hospital Physician HIT Engagement Strategies
EMR Adoption Model for Hospitals and
Expected Benefits for Each Stage
Frequently Asked Questions about Health
Information Technology
Defining and Testing EMR Usability
Nursing Education Reform – TIGER
NEW CMS Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Final Rule
NEW Highlights of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs (Meaningful Use) Final Rule Updated 7/28/2010
NEW Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs - What’s Different Between the NPRM and the Final Rule? Updated 7/19/2010
NEW Brief Facts on the Final Rule for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs Updated 7/14/2010
NEW Meaningful Use Final Rules: HIMSS Prepares Members Updated 7/13/2010
Basic Facts About Meaningful Use and ARRA Updated 1/21/2010
HHS Temporary Certification Programs
Final Rule
Overview of the HHS Temporary Certification Program Final Rule Updated 6/22/2010
Brief Facts on the HHS Temporary Certification Program Final Rule Updated 7/1/2010
HHS Temporary Certification Final Rule: What is Different from the NPRM? Updated 6/21/2010
HHS Temporary Certification Final Rule FAQs Updated 6/21/2010
NEW HIMSS Notes on ONC Temporary Certification Informational Call Updated 8/18/2010
HIMSS Notes on ONC Informational Call For Potential HHS Certification ATCB Applicants Updated 6/30/2010
HIMSS Notes on ONC Informational Call for Health IT Developers Updated 7/2/2010
HIMSS Notes on ONC Informational Call for Providers Including Clinicians Hospitals and Other Provider Organizations Updated 7/2/2010
HIMSS Notes on ONC Informational Call for Providers who are also Health IT Developers Updated 7/2/2010
Selecting the Right EMR Vendor
NEW HHS Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement Rules NPRM
Quick Guide to Navigating the P&S Provisions of ARRA Updated 10/23/2009
HIMSS Privacy and Security Toolkit
ARRA Business Associate FAQs Updated 7/7/2009
ARRA Privacy & Security FAQs Updated 3/11/2009
ARRA Chronological Listing of Key Privacy and Security Dates
NEW HIMSS Fact Sheet: Ensuring Equality for Early EHR Adoption Act of 2010, H.R. 6005: Legislation in the 111th Congress Updated 8/2010
NEW HIMSS Fact Sheet: The EHR Incentives for Multi-Campus Hospitals Act of 2010, H.R. 6072: Legislation in the 111th Congress Updated 8/2010
HIMSS Analysis of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Updated 7/1/2009
HIMSS Summary of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Updated 7/1/2009
ARRA Chronological Listing of Key Dates
Updated 11/11/2009
HIMSS FAQs on ARRA Updated 3/12/2009
ARRA Business Associate FAQs Updated 5/6/2009
ARRA Funding FAQs Updated 7/1/2009
Health IT Policy Update
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The Official Web Site for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
Office of the National Coordinator: HealthIT.hhs.gov Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
HRSA Health Care Center: Recovery Act Grants
A Shared Roadmap and Vision for Health IT
And introduction to Health IT Certification
An introduction to Health Information Exchange using IHE
